Third Avenue Charitable Organization

On Monday, the 11th, the group went to the Third Avenue Charitable Organization (TACO) to get a tour of the facility and learn more about their mission. TACO is a non-profit organization that serves the homeless of downtown San Diego. They serve meals on Monday evenings and Friday mornings. In addition to providing meals, they also provide dental, medical and acupuncture services.

TACO is located at the First Lutheran Church in the downtown area. Our group was able to see where the meals are made and served as well as where volunteer doctors and dentists made appointments. The waiting list is over six months!

A group of five of us returned to TACO in the afternoon to help prepare and serve dinner. Already at one (dinner is served at five) people began lining up outside the facility. We prepared MANY vegetables (only one casualty.. Sarah's finger) before setting up. The dinner was a success in that all those in line (over 200) got food, with seconds also available. This interaction with the homeless was different from the Stand Up For Kids Center as all were adults. While we did not spend as much time with the people in line as we usually do with our kids at the center, it was still a positive experience to see smiling and gracious faces.

Two more groups will be visiting TACO in the next two weeks to serve in the mornings.